Abstract

The frequency and severity of adverse reactions are the main reasons for low compliance of mass drug administration (MDA) under the Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (PELF). This paper reports the frequency and types of adverse reactions during two MDAs during January 2002 and September 2004 in the State of Orissa, India. Of the people who consumed the drugs, 15.5% in the 2002 MDA and 16.5% in the 2004 MDA reported one or more adverse reactions. This rate is higher (49.7%) in a group of individuals who were monitored for 6 days from the day of consumption of drugs during the 2002 MDA. However, many of these reactions were mild. No significant difference was found in the frequency of adverse reactions between MDA with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) alone and with DEC and albendazole. Significant gender differences were found in the 2004 MDA but no such differences were found in the 2002 MDA; however, the frequency of adverse reactions increased with age. Of all the adverse reactions, systemic adverse reactions typically associated with microfilarial death were more frequent. The frequency of adverse reactions was higher in microfilaraemics compared with amicrofilaraemic controls. The present study warrants developing an active adverse reaction surveillance system to minimise the impact of adverse reactions on MDA compliance.